Railway-traffic-controlling apparatus



R. M. GILSON RAILWAY TRAFFIC CONTROLLING APPARATUS Filed July 21, 1927 spond ng to the location,

UNITED s'ra'rss PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT M. GIL SON,

SWITCH & SIGNAL COMPANY,

OF PENNSYLVANIA.

0P PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, AssreNon To THE UNION o 'swIssvALn; PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION nAxLwAY-TnAPPIc-coNTRoLLING APPARATUS.

Application filed July 21,

My invention relates to railway traffic controlling apparatus,

paratus of the governing mechanism controlled supplied from the trackway. cally, the present and particularly 7 to aptype comprising train-carried by energy More specifiinvention relates to the trackway portion of such apparatus.

I will describe one form of apparatus embodyingmy invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

The accompanying mat-i0 view showing one apparatus embodying my Referring to the drawing, the

form of drawing is a diagramtrackway invention. A

reference characters 1 and 1 designate the track rails of a railway along which traffic moves in the direction indicated by normally row. These rails are divided byinsulated joints 2 into a plurality of sections,

of which three complete successive track sections DE, 'E-F and F K are shown in the drawing.

Each track section is provided with a track circuit comprising a track connected with the of the section, and a track relay with the rails adj battery 8 rails adjacent the exit end connected acent the entrance endof the section and designated by the reference character G with to the location. nected across the rails an exponent corresponding Each track battery s conthrough a lnnitmg impedance 6 and the secondary 4 of a transformer designated by the reference character T with an exponent corresponding to the T will appear-hereinafter.

Located adjacent section is a-signal ence character S tion indicates stop, thesignal fo location; The function of the transformers the entrance end of each the referent correeach of which sigis of the threecapableof indicatstop. These sigthat when the signal for such secr the first section in the rear indicates caution, the signal for the second sectionin the cates caution, and the signal for section in the rear indicates apparatus for controlling these s rear inclithe third proceed. The

ignals has the arwinding of relay 1927. serial No. 207,422.

rent 'to the track rails, which current is periodically interrupted at one frequency or another according to traffic conditions in advance. ruption of the alternating current for each section is controlled by a coding device desig-, nated by the reference character C with an exponent corresponding to the location, each of which devices comprises a motor 9 which 7 operates two cams 10 and 11. The cam 10' controls a contact 12 in such manner that this contact is opened once for each-revolution of the cam, and the cam 11 controls a contact 13 in such manner thatthiscontact is 7 opened three times for each revolution of the cam. v A I The supply of operating current to the motor 9 of each coding device is controlled by a relay designated by the reference charso acter A with an exponent corresponding to the location, each of which relays is normally de-energizedJ Referring specifically to relay A for sectionD-E, this relay is pro vided with a main circuit which passes from terminal X of a suitable source of currentthrough back contact 17 of track relay G contact 16 operated by signal S, and the A to terminal Y of the same source of current. Contact 16 is closed when signal S indicates proceed, but not when this. signal indicates caution or stop.. The relay A? is provided with an auxiliary circuit which passes from terminal X, through back contact 8 of a slow-releasing relay H and winding of relay A to ter'- minal Y. The slow releasing relay H is provided with a circuit which passes from terminal B of a suitable source of direct current through front contact 7 of track resimplify the x e for 60 supplying alternating tra n governing cur- As here shown, the periodic inter- 65 Will be seen from the foregoing that relay A is de-ener ized when section DE is unoccupied, and that relay A becomes energized when a train enters section DE. It will also be noted, however, that if signal {5 is in the proceed position when a train enters sect on D-E, relay A becomes energized as soon as the train enters the section, but that if signal S is in the caution or the stop position, the energization of relay A is delayed for a the time required for the back contact 8 of relay H to close.

Each of the remaining relays A is controlled by apparatus similar to that which controls relay A terminal Y. 'liach line relay L Each section is provided with a line relay designated by'the reference character L with an exponent corresponding to the location, and each of which line relays is controlled by the track relay for the associated section and by the track relay for the section next in advance. lteferrfng for example to line relay L the circuit for this relay is from terminal X, through front contact 18 of track relay G front contact 19 of track relay G and the winding of relay L to is provided with a contact 14: which determines whether the supply of train governing current for the associated section shall be interrupted by contact 12 or contact 13 coding device C. Again referring specifically to section DE, Iwill assume that line relay L is energized, and that relay A is also energized. Alternating current then flows from terminal X, through contact 15 of relay A contact 13 of coding device CE, front contact 14-14 of relay L and the primary 5 of transformer T to terminal Y.

. The alternating current then supplied to the rails of section D-E is periodically interrupted by contact: 13 at such rate that this current will give a proceed indication aboard a. train, and the current thus supplied to the rails may be termed the proceed code. If, however, either section E-F or F-K is occup ed, line relay will be de-energized, and the circuit just traced for the primary of transformer T will then be open at front contact '1-l14 so that the primary of transformer T will be supplied with train governing current through contact 12 of coding device C and back contact l i-14- of relay L The traingoverning current will then be interrupted at such rate as to cause a caution indication on the train. occupying section D-E, and so this current may be termed the caution code.

The apparatus shown in the ing drawing is intended for with train-carried governing mechanism which is controlled by the periodicallyinterrupted train governing current in the track rails in such nanner as to give a proaccompanyco-operation period of time detern'iined by of the associated manner that upona change from a proceed to a caution indication, a brake application Wlll result or a stop 1nd1cat1on Wlll be given unless the engineer takes suitable steps to ac-' knowledge such change of indication. "Fur' thermore, the controlof the train-carried governing mechanism is such that if the of train governing current periodic supply 7 of the caution code is temporarily interrupted, a brake application will result or a stop indication will be given unless the engineer again takes suitable action to acknowledge the temporary discontinuance of train governing current. One form oftraincarried mechanism which will operate in the manner just described, is disclosed in application for Letters Patent of the United States, filed. by Lloyd V. Lewis on August 2, 1927, Serial No. 210165, for railway traflic controlling apparatus.

As shown in the drawing, the section immediately to the right of point K is occupied by a train represented by an axle and pair of wheels 1V, so that signal S indicates stop and both signals S and S indicate caution, while signal 8 indicates proceed. I willassume that a secondtrain equipped with governing mechanism of the type hereinbefore described approaches section D-E, and that the sect-ion immediately in the rear of this section is receiving train governing current of the proceed code. As the train enters section D-E, it will relay GP, and inasmuch as contact 16, operated by signal S is closed, relay A lwill become energized as soonas the train enters the section. Relay L is energized, so that train governing current rupted in accordance with the proceed code will be supplied to the rails of section DE and this supply will begin as soon as the train enters the section. No change will occur in the train-carriedmechanism, and so no acknowledgment on the partof the ende-energize track ginecr will be'required. As the train enters section F-F, theenergization of relay -A will be delayed, because contact 16 on signal S is open. Relay L is (lo-energized, so that train governing current of the caution code will be supplied to therails of'this section. Due to the change of indication, and also due to the delay in supplying train governing current to the rails afterthe train enters t-hescction, the engineer must ac-- knowledge upon entering section EF or he will be penalized by a brake application or a stop indication. When the train enters section F-K, it will still receive train governing current of the caution code, because line relay L is open, but the supply of this current will be delayed due to the fact that train enters section FK, whichinterval 1s of sufiicient length to restore the train-carried mechanism toits normal conditiomthus.

requiring the engineer to acknowledge signal S in order to prevent a brake application or a stop indication aboardthe train.

Although I have herein scribed only one form of apparatus embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. In combination, a' section of railway track, means for supplying train governing current to said section when and only when the section is occupied by a train and for normally starting the supply of such current as soon as a train enters the section, and means for delaying the supply of said current to'the section when a train enters the section if traffic conditions in advance of the section are unsafe.

2. In combination, a section of railway track, means for supplying train governing current to said section when and only when the section is occupied by a train and for normally starting the supply. of such current as soon as a train enters the section, and meanst'or delaying the supply ofsaid current to the section when section if the section next in advance is 00- cupied.

3. In combination, a section of railway track, means for supplying train governing current to the rails of said section when and only when the section is occupied by a train and for normally starting the supply-ofsuch current to the rails as soon as the train enters the section, and means for delaying the'supply of such current when a train enters the section if traflic conditions in advance of the section are unsafe 7 l. In combination, a section of railway track, means for supplyingperi odically interrupted alternating train governing current to the rails of said section when and only when the section is occupiedby a'train and for normally starting the supply of such current to the rails as soon as a train enters the section, and means for delaying the supply of such current when a train enters the is open. It will be energized track relay tor suppl'ylng tram governlng current tov said section when andonly when-sa1d track shown and dea train enters the section if traflic conditions in advance of the section are unsafe.

In combination,

track, a track circuit including a normally for said section, means relay is deenergized and for normally starting the supply of such current as soon as the track relay becomes de-energized, and means for delaying the supply of said current when said track relay becomes deenergized if traific conditions in advance of said section are unsafe.

6. In combination, a section of railway track, a signal for said section capable of indicating proceed, caution and stop, means for supplying train governing current to said section when and only when the section is occupied by a train and for starting the supply of such current as soon as a train enters the section if said signal indicates proceed, and means for delaying the supply of such current when a train enters the sec tion it said signal indicates caution.

7'. In combination, track, a track circuit for said section including a normally energized track relay, a signal for said section capable of indicating proceed, caution and stop. means including a normally de-energized codingdevice for supplying train governing current to the rails of said section, a controlling circuit for said coding device including in series a back contact of said track relay and a contact closed when said signal indicates proceed but not when itfindicates caution, a slow-releasing relay controlled by a front contact of said track relay, and a branch around the said contacts in said controlling circuit and including a back contact of said slow-releasing relay.

8. In combination, track, a track circuit ing a normally energized track relay,'a signal for said section capable of indicating proceed, caution and stop, a slow-releasing relay having aback contact and energized or deenergized according as said track relay is energized'or de-energized, means including a normally'de-energized coding device for supplying, train governing current to the rails of said section, and means operating when a train enters said section to set said coding device into operation as soon as, the back contacts of said track relay close if said signal indicates proceed, but to delay the operation of said coding device until the back contact of said slow-releasing relay closes if said signal indicates caution.

9. In combination, three successive sections a section of railway a section of railwayv a section of railway for said section includof railway track, signals for said sections controlled in such manner that when the s1gnal for the forward section indicates stop the signals for the intermediate and rear sections both indicate caution, means for each laying the supply of train governing currentof the intermediate and rear sections for to the intermediate section when a train en supplying tram governmg current to the tens such section it the signal tor such see-V 10 SGCEZOILWhQIl and only when the section is tion indicates caution.

occupied by a train and for normally start In testimony whereof I my signature.

ing the supply of such current as soon as a y x train enters the section, and means for de- 4 ROBERT M. GiLSON. 

